Go west for the last mile. 

When it comes to shared micro-mobility—rentals of mini electric vehicles—Richmond, Vernon and Kelowna in B.C., as well as Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, St. Albert, Okotoks and Cochrane in Alberta, are the closest to having “advanced” systems that embrace pedestrians, invest in infrastructure and innovate, according to a new EY Canada report. 

While no Canadian city reaches the “advanced” adoption status of Paris, Madrid or Berlin, these 10 cities stand above the rest of Canada.

Kelowna excels with detailed requirements around helmets, sidewalk-detection technology, locks and parking, while several Alberta cities have supported micro-mobility programs with 1,000 vehicles or more. 

“Younger people have less focus and preference on buying cars, especially when they live in cities,” said Lance Mortlock, the managing partner of EY Canada’s energy practice and an author of the report. 

“Municipalities, cities … play a role in making sure that the infrastructure is in place, and the right policy and regulations in place to support micro-mobility.” 

As Canada chases ambitious climate goals, shared micro-mobility programs are of growing importance, yet the country is in the early stages of a transition that’s already taking off in Western Europe, Southeast Asia and even the U.S., the report said. 

Mortlock said lack of dense cities and harsh weather have been two obstacles to more widespread e-bike and e-scooter sharing programs in Canada. But cities in Western Canada have been able to find ways around these issues, with Kelowna creating a permitting system that allows bike-sharing year-round. Kelowna and Calgary are also case studies on improving safety and consumer perception by providing free helmets and creating bike-and-scooter parking zones, the report reads.

Canadian cities could improve micro-mobility options by expanding infrastructure like charging hubs that can service multiple brands and devices, and expanding access to low-income residents through “universal basic mobility” programs, EY said.

McKinsey & Company expects the combined U.S., European and Chinese micro-mobility markets will reach US$500 billion in 2030.

In the past few months alone, we’ve seen Canadian auto-parts maker Magna enter the micro-mobility market in India, and the Detroit auto show expand to feature more micro-mobility devices.

But some of these changes could take years to institute, the report notes. It’s a reality that hits close to home in my Toronto neighbourhood, where the decision to build bike lanes has sown division, and regulators are struggling to enforce an e-scooter ban to protect those with disabilities who feel endangered on the sidewalk, while rising gas prices draw more people to buy their own individual scooters.

Scooter companies are also struggling to sway public sentiment. Bird recently said it has over-reported its scooter revenue since 2020, and fellow micro-mobility company Helbiz has seen shares fall nearly 97 per cent this year. Some Canadian health-care institutions have also called for more research and rider caution around scooters operated by companies like Neuron, Bird and Lime.

“There’s still a lot of trepidation and caution, particularly when compared to the U.S.,” said Mortlock. “So maybe the more incremental hubs for charging make sense, to see how this space evolves in this country over the next few years.” 

Not every e-scooter rental is replacing a car: The report found that 43 per cent of micro-mobility trips replaced walking, 22 per cent replaced taxis or ride-sharing, and 13 per cent replaced a passenger-vehicle trip. But scooter companies argue that their riders are also using the vehicles to access employment opportunities, or get to work or school.

“When you’re covering large distances, then there’s going to be limitations in terms of the coverage of that transit solution,” said Mortlock.

“There’s going to be shorter-distance travel, where micro-mobility can play an important role. And then you combine that with diesel buses, or hydrogen buses, which Montreal is looking at. Ultimately, the right solution is a combination of the above.” 

Read Shift—The Logic’s authoritative weekly newsletter on automotive technology industry news—for more; and if you know someone who should be reading it, they can sign up here.